Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Backline
Another thing that I wanted to talk about was back-lines. I used a back-line the other night and I had to say it sucked. I don't mean to brag but my rig sounds so much better than any back-line. I would be doing myself and my band an injustice by ever playing through anything but my rig again. For instance, we have a live recording from Dingbatz this past Sunday and I cannot distribute it to anybody because the sound just doesn't live up to Slam One Down standards. The performance was great but it sounded weak. Lesson learned.
To Play Every show or not?
So we had some great shows this past week. I just wanted to tell everyone how they went. We were asked to play a show at the all famous Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA. Some of the most famous heavy metal acts have played there and we played our first gig there. How we got it was kind of interesting, but it goes to show you that you have to play every show that you can get, "within reason". The "within reason" part is a very gray area, as Bobby and myself argue about all the time.
We were asked to play a show in Keyport, NJ at a VFW hall. Not too many people showed up but we met some really cool people, including our friends, Symbol of Sorrow. They really liked our sound and style and mentioned that they could get us shows in PA. Well two weeks ago they came through and said that they were headlining a show at Croc Rock and needed a band to fill the night. We packed the trailer and took our first road trip. Roach slept all the way there and on the way down, I dont think any of us said a word to each other until we started drinking backstage before the show. I guess that is because the 4 of us are all deep thinkers, or just selfish sons of bitches.
As you know in the scene you are ranked based on how many people you bring. And that night we brought a whopping zero people. How do you expect us to bring anyone 2 hours away with a one week notice. Anyway, We ripped shit on stage again. We played so well that we impressed the promoter and he gave a spot on the Atticus Metal Tour in March 21, 2010. We are so stoked to be sharing a stage with so many good bands and of course the all mighty UNEARTH. It was nice to know that our performance alone got us the gig. We ended the night at Wendy's
That bring's to the following week at the almighty Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. We opened the show for the one and only Full Blown Chaos, Waking the Cadaver, Doomsday Prophecy, Severed, & Undivided. All those bands were amazing and there was definitely an amazing crowd there. The club was pretty much filled up. It was probably one of the biggest crowd's we played to yet. I will be honest, we didn't get the full crowd participation that we would like, but there was one noticeable thing. As a band we noticed that all eyes were on us. Nobody was doing anything but starring at us. It was great. We all felt like we won some new fans over. By the end of the night we were all fucking wasted. Roach and I actually ended up leading the mosh pit for the other bands. So we will see what comes out of that event. A big thank you for Black and Blue Productions for having us.
As for one of my previous comments. The big argument in the band lately has been should we play every show we get or do we be extremely strategic about when and where we play? Let us know what you think.
J.R.
Slam One Down
We were asked to play a show in Keyport, NJ at a VFW hall. Not too many people showed up but we met some really cool people, including our friends, Symbol of Sorrow. They really liked our sound and style and mentioned that they could get us shows in PA. Well two weeks ago they came through and said that they were headlining a show at Croc Rock and needed a band to fill the night. We packed the trailer and took our first road trip. Roach slept all the way there and on the way down, I dont think any of us said a word to each other until we started drinking backstage before the show. I guess that is because the 4 of us are all deep thinkers, or just selfish sons of bitches.
As you know in the scene you are ranked based on how many people you bring. And that night we brought a whopping zero people. How do you expect us to bring anyone 2 hours away with a one week notice. Anyway, We ripped shit on stage again. We played so well that we impressed the promoter and he gave a spot on the Atticus Metal Tour in March 21, 2010. We are so stoked to be sharing a stage with so many good bands and of course the all mighty UNEARTH. It was nice to know that our performance alone got us the gig. We ended the night at Wendy's
That bring's to the following week at the almighty Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. We opened the show for the one and only Full Blown Chaos, Waking the Cadaver, Doomsday Prophecy, Severed, & Undivided. All those bands were amazing and there was definitely an amazing crowd there. The club was pretty much filled up. It was probably one of the biggest crowd's we played to yet. I will be honest, we didn't get the full crowd participation that we would like, but there was one noticeable thing. As a band we noticed that all eyes were on us. Nobody was doing anything but starring at us. It was great. We all felt like we won some new fans over. By the end of the night we were all fucking wasted. Roach and I actually ended up leading the mosh pit for the other bands. So we will see what comes out of that event. A big thank you for Black and Blue Productions for having us.
As for one of my previous comments. The big argument in the band lately has been should we play every show we get or do we be extremely strategic about when and where we play? Let us know what you think.
J.R.
Slam One Down
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
people who don't like music
im writing this because for the past two weeks ive been playing in little italy with this brass festival band that ive been playing with for 4 years now. we play for the restaurants down there to get people in the christmas spirit and for tips (if it wasn't for the money i wouldnt be out in 15 degree weather) in the past two weekends of doing this, ive noticed something about people. its something i always knew about certain people but this year it just really irked me for some reason and i feel i should talk about it. The fact that certain people in this world dont like music, period. they dont want to hear it and they're annoyed by a band playing in their vicinity. This idea culminated when a restaurant, who we're really good friends with, told us not to come in because one table, ONE table, of people didn't want to be disturbed. The rest of the patrons at this restaurant were denied a little entertainment because the minority won over. Now this idea can be analogized into other situations not pertaining to music, but for the sake of your time and patience, im only sticking with the music aspect.
This is where i put in my tagline: Really? Come on....
i mean seriously. you dont like music? i mean its one thing to not like music. maybe you never had the chance or opportunity to learn a musical instrument or appreciate music when you were a kid or maybe you had a bad experience with music as a child, but to rob everyone else in the restaurant of some entertainment simply because you dont want to hear it is selfish and stupid.
on top of that, your in little italy. the band that i was playing with has been playing in little italy for over 30 years, we do this EVERY YEAR. If your coming to little italy for dinner and you dont expect the band to come around, your a fucking moron. Besides its little italy, people go down there to have a good time and be loud. you want a quiet dinner, go to the upper east or west side. dont come down to little italy. There are a lot of people and groups we see who love the band and totally appreciate what we do and get into it and i respect those people because they know what they're gonna get in little italy and thats why they come there.
Ive also noticed that most people who are guilty of this non appreciation of music are people in my generation. People these days are so used to listening to cds or digital music that live music has been taken for granted. I have my ipod and i listen to itunes and pandora, etc, but i try to listen to live music as much as possible. There is something about live music that recorded music will never be able to duplicate. With the advent of DJs and turntables, more people are more inclined to hire one person who can play their favorite songs from a cd rather than pay a group of guys to play the same song right there live in their faces. I know people like to save money (especially in these times) but for me live music blows recorded music out of the water. Im getting married next year and im hoping to get more than one live band for the reception, the money is not a matter.
so what does this tell us about ourselves? The worlds getting smaller, our attention spans are getting shorter, our speakers are getting smaller and our appreciation for the finer things is almost completely gone. Will it change? i dont know. i hope it will, but as a realist and a cynic, i find it highly unlikely. i would weep for society on its journey down this hole of unappreciation and this lost of something that made humans worth looking into, but i have no tears for a species that devalues all of the stuff that make it worth living. that is all...
-roach
This is where i put in my tagline: Really? Come on....
i mean seriously. you dont like music? i mean its one thing to not like music. maybe you never had the chance or opportunity to learn a musical instrument or appreciate music when you were a kid or maybe you had a bad experience with music as a child, but to rob everyone else in the restaurant of some entertainment simply because you dont want to hear it is selfish and stupid.
on top of that, your in little italy. the band that i was playing with has been playing in little italy for over 30 years, we do this EVERY YEAR. If your coming to little italy for dinner and you dont expect the band to come around, your a fucking moron. Besides its little italy, people go down there to have a good time and be loud. you want a quiet dinner, go to the upper east or west side. dont come down to little italy. There are a lot of people and groups we see who love the band and totally appreciate what we do and get into it and i respect those people because they know what they're gonna get in little italy and thats why they come there.
Ive also noticed that most people who are guilty of this non appreciation of music are people in my generation. People these days are so used to listening to cds or digital music that live music has been taken for granted. I have my ipod and i listen to itunes and pandora, etc, but i try to listen to live music as much as possible. There is something about live music that recorded music will never be able to duplicate. With the advent of DJs and turntables, more people are more inclined to hire one person who can play their favorite songs from a cd rather than pay a group of guys to play the same song right there live in their faces. I know people like to save money (especially in these times) but for me live music blows recorded music out of the water. Im getting married next year and im hoping to get more than one live band for the reception, the money is not a matter.
so what does this tell us about ourselves? The worlds getting smaller, our attention spans are getting shorter, our speakers are getting smaller and our appreciation for the finer things is almost completely gone. Will it change? i dont know. i hope it will, but as a realist and a cynic, i find it highly unlikely. i would weep for society on its journey down this hole of unappreciation and this lost of something that made humans worth looking into, but i have no tears for a species that devalues all of the stuff that make it worth living. that is all...
-roach
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Dimebag's Recipe with a touch of J.R.
Besides being one of the greatest heavy metal guitar players of all time, I happen to be an Italian. That also means I am an amazing cook. I am writing this on Sunday and I just finished making a homemade red sauce, which is totally superb. The sauce is now simmering with sausage and homemade meatballs. I have to admit the whole recipe is Mom's with my added touch. Kind of like my guitar playing is Dimebag's recipe with a touch of J.R.'s style. The rest of the guys in the band will be here shortly. I am drinking a bottle of Chianti right now. Eating some appetizers which consists of fresh Mozzarella, Roasted peppers, fresh Soppressatta and NY Italian Bread. When the rest of the band gets here we will eat like gentlemen or la famiglia. And then we will have band practice with a full stomach and nice wine and beer buzz, with a little THC twist. That is the Slam One Down family tradition. Welcome to our family. Open invite every Sunday to anyone who wants to hang out, eat, drink, and jam our favorite Heavy Metal tunes.
JR
Slam One Down
JR
Slam One Down
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Dimebag thoughts
It's pretty obvious that Dimebag was my favorite guitar player. I really miss that guy even though I never got to know him as a person. But I guess I didn't have to. He seemed like the kind of guy who told you who he was through his music and obviously on his crazy videos. He seemed like he has nothing to hide.
I have basically mimicked every aspect of his guitar playing. I have learned everyone one of his songs from beginning to end, every solo, every squeal. I remember being like 15 years old and watching all the home videos in my room and saying to myself..."That is going to be me one day." I made that promise to myself almost 15 years ago and I never stopped believing that I am going to do something like he did. THat is pretty amazing that a guy like Dimebag could do that to not only me but millions of 15 year olds to this day. I also remember wanting to be able to party like him. So when we were kids we would get beers and fucking rip shit up. I mean still to this day I throw bottles of beers in the middle of clubs and break them on the floor. I still smash shit, break shit and drink until I cannot see straight. I often say to myself, "What would Dime do at this moment?" Another great thing I learned from Dime was to shred on the guitar while being drunk. That took me years to master but it was well worth it.
My whole rhythm and lead style is based around Dimebag's influence. I would say 80% Dimebag, 10% all the other greats and 10% J.R. It's pretty cool to know that I have my own style and that you can recognize "JR's style". But it was Dime who gave me the drive to create it. As I continue on my musical path, my goal is to one day have Vinnie, Rex, & Phil hear my music and tell me that Dimebag would be proud. It's kind of my life's purpose at this point to make it happen.
Not to change subjects, but I am glad to see that they are doing an album for Dime. There are some cool cats on there. I think Metallica should man up and do something for him. But most importantly, the existing members of Pantera should start a festival, kind of like what Ozzy did with Ozzfest. They can even alter guitar players every year. At this point it would make sense to have Zack Wylde do it. Hopefully I could do it one day. It think it is absolutely ridiculous that those guys aren't jamming together. Get over it already. We only got one life on this planet, do the right thing. I often think to myself, how would the heavy metal world be different if he were still alive. I would guess that by now they would have settled their differences. They kept metal going in the right direction. I dont think that anyone is doing that right now. BUt you know for sure I have no problem taking that responsibility. I will raise the flag again for metal and show the world what its all about.
In closing, I felt the need to write this for a lot of different reasons. I didn't plan it out or anything I just typed my thoughts as they came to me. I really miss that dude even though he never really left me. He is in my heart everyday at least. His music has guided me through everything in my life and I cannot thank him enough for all the great things that he gave me. So it has now been five years, I remember when it happened. I was in Atlantic Çity that night partying away and I heard it while I was sleeping. As I digress...thank you Dimebag for everything you've given the world and hopefully some of us down here will make you proud.
J.R.
Slam One Down
or as Dime would say"Getcha Pull"
I have basically mimicked every aspect of his guitar playing. I have learned everyone one of his songs from beginning to end, every solo, every squeal. I remember being like 15 years old and watching all the home videos in my room and saying to myself..."That is going to be me one day." I made that promise to myself almost 15 years ago and I never stopped believing that I am going to do something like he did. THat is pretty amazing that a guy like Dimebag could do that to not only me but millions of 15 year olds to this day. I also remember wanting to be able to party like him. So when we were kids we would get beers and fucking rip shit up. I mean still to this day I throw bottles of beers in the middle of clubs and break them on the floor. I still smash shit, break shit and drink until I cannot see straight. I often say to myself, "What would Dime do at this moment?" Another great thing I learned from Dime was to shred on the guitar while being drunk. That took me years to master but it was well worth it.
My whole rhythm and lead style is based around Dimebag's influence. I would say 80% Dimebag, 10% all the other greats and 10% J.R. It's pretty cool to know that I have my own style and that you can recognize "JR's style". But it was Dime who gave me the drive to create it. As I continue on my musical path, my goal is to one day have Vinnie, Rex, & Phil hear my music and tell me that Dimebag would be proud. It's kind of my life's purpose at this point to make it happen.
Not to change subjects, but I am glad to see that they are doing an album for Dime. There are some cool cats on there. I think Metallica should man up and do something for him. But most importantly, the existing members of Pantera should start a festival, kind of like what Ozzy did with Ozzfest. They can even alter guitar players every year. At this point it would make sense to have Zack Wylde do it. Hopefully I could do it one day. It think it is absolutely ridiculous that those guys aren't jamming together. Get over it already. We only got one life on this planet, do the right thing. I often think to myself, how would the heavy metal world be different if he were still alive. I would guess that by now they would have settled their differences. They kept metal going in the right direction. I dont think that anyone is doing that right now. BUt you know for sure I have no problem taking that responsibility. I will raise the flag again for metal and show the world what its all about.
In closing, I felt the need to write this for a lot of different reasons. I didn't plan it out or anything I just typed my thoughts as they came to me. I really miss that dude even though he never really left me. He is in my heart everyday at least. His music has guided me through everything in my life and I cannot thank him enough for all the great things that he gave me. So it has now been five years, I remember when it happened. I was in Atlantic Çity that night partying away and I heard it while I was sleeping. As I digress...thank you Dimebag for everything you've given the world and hopefully some of us down here will make you proud.
J.R.
Slam One Down
or as Dime would say"Getcha Pull"
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Respect Amongst Bands
Just want to send out a reminder to the world about respect amongst fellow bands. We are the kind of band that brings a cooler of ice cold beers to every show and makes sure to offer every other band and their friends a cold one on the house. The reason that I bring this up is because we have played some shows lately and the bands that played before us actually left the event before a good portion of the show was even finished. They even took their friends home with them. As a band, we make sure to get everyone of our friends to the show right before the show starts and we don't leave until the last band has finished their set. We do it out of respect. We are always interested in hearing new music and meeting new people. It's the only way that we are going to make it to the next level. Besides you never know who you are going to meet at a show and where it can lead you to.
In fact, just the other night we played a Sunday show that we didn't think was going to turn out so good. Well it was one of our best interactions with fans that we have had thus far. Because we "STAYED" the whole night; we got new gigs and contacts out of it. The moral of the story is, if you want Heavy Metal to progress and keep extreme music going strong. Make sure everyone in your band brings a couple of friends to the show and make sure you stay for the whole event to finish. Do it out of respect.
In fact, just the other night we played a Sunday show that we didn't think was going to turn out so good. Well it was one of our best interactions with fans that we have had thus far. Because we "STAYED" the whole night; we got new gigs and contacts out of it. The moral of the story is, if you want Heavy Metal to progress and keep extreme music going strong. Make sure everyone in your band brings a couple of friends to the show and make sure you stay for the whole event to finish. Do it out of respect.
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